TORONTO -- Predictably, the
Ontario government looks like it will challenge yet
another court decision siding with the owners of the
private 407 highway.
The Liberals say they're
reviewing the November 7, 2005, judicial decision
requiring the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to refuse
validation of vehicle permits for those who have failed
to pay tolls and administrative fees owed to
407 ETR,
As is the case in a handful
of other cases dealing with 407
ETR's right to set
tolls, the Ontario government isn't likely going to
accept the court's decision for an answer.
"We are disappointed with
this decision," said Transportation Minister Harinder
Takhar. "Denying someone the right to renew their
licence plate significantly affects their ability to
drive, and that is very serious. It's even more serious
when it occurs through no fault of their own, but
because the 407 ETR electronic system made a mistake."
The province is reviewing
this decision to determine the next course of action,
including appeal. As part of this review, the province
will consider if a stay of the decision should be
pursued to ensure no plates are denied before an appeal
is heard.
The ministry says that
407 ETR agreed in February 2000 that plate denial would be
suspended until the company's systems was working
properly.
In August, an Ontario
Superior Court upheld an independent panel of
arbitrators ruling that the contract conditions between
the 407 ETR and the previous Tory government allow the
highway owners to raise tolls as long as traffic doesn't
fall below 2002 levels.
The government is still
decided whether to challenge this latest ruling as well.